Can Cold Plunging Improve Mental Health?

IN COLD WATER | Outdoor Idaho

Nearly every morning, Cameron LaBar walks the short distance from his apartment to Idaho’s Boise River to sit in 40-degree water for the health of it. He is a regular in the world of cold plunging and ice baths, seeking out the mental and physical benefits of cold exposure to address mental and physical stressors. For Cameron, the cold water provides a welcome relief to the anxiety of everyday life. The icy water serves as a lesson in breathing and relaxation and as a reminder of his immense capability. With the Boise River as his backdrop, Cameron melts into the nature around him like he’s part of it—listening to the birds, watching the sunrise, feeling the rush of water, and then rising, ready to start again. “In Cold Water” shines a light on mental health and one way that one person uses nature’s healing power to feel better.

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